Action toy



Nov. 28, 1961 R. w. CRAWFORD ETA]. 3,010,252

ACTION TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, '1958 INVENTORS RALPH W. CRAWFORD NORMAN G.SGHULLER LESLIE W. SLY

ATTORNEYS R. w. CRAWFORD EI'AL 3,010,252

Nov. 23, 1961 ACTION TOY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19. 1958 vllll;

R R m mu N mL E w m V W E m R L N A 38 R w w m M EHME N H P M U J lama RNL O 4 w United States Patent Ofiice 3,010,252 Patented Nov. 28, 1961 This invention relates to the action toy art, and more particularly to improved noise-making or voice means in such toys.

One object of the invention is to provide, for toys as aforesaid, an improved voice or sound making system employing the air bellows and vibrating reed principle.

Another object is to provide an improved sound mechanism for use in trundle toys or the like wherein the sound mechanism is actuated cyclically' by the toy traction wheel means.

Still another object-of the invention is to provide for use in a variety of animal simulating toys or the like, T

a voice mechanism, some of the parts of which are adapted to be assembled in different relative arrangements to provide different sound effects.

Other objects of the invention will become subsequently apparent from the specification hereinafter, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a phantom side elevational view of a trundle toy embodying one form of voice mechanism of the present invention; at one position of its operative cycle;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the mechanism at another position in its operative cycle;

FIG. 3 is a front view of another toy embodying a rearranged form of the voice mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a section taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view on an enlarged scale, through the voice mechanism of FIGS. 4, 5;

FIG. 6 is a section, on reduced scale, taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section, on enlarged scale, taken along line VII-VII of Fig. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, one form of the voice mechanism of the invention as designated generally at 10 is mounted in a cow-simulating toy comprising a hollow body portion 12 mounted on wheels 14, 16. A head portion 18 is pivotally mounted on the body as indicated at 19. One or both of the front wheels 16 are key'ed to an axle 20 journaled on the body 12 and carrying a spur gear 22. The gear 22 meshes with a gear 24 which is carried by an axle 26 extending transversely of the body 12. A circular cam 28 is carried by either the gear 24 or the axle 26 eccentrically of their axes of rotation. A connecting rod 30 is formed with an eye portion 32 at its lower end encircling cam 28 and pivotally connects as indicated at 33 to the free end of a cantilever spring 34. The other end of the spring 34 is fixed to the movable plate 36 of the bellows portion of the voice mechanism.

As shown, the bellows device includes a base plate 38 to which the movable plate 36 is hinged as indicated at 39 by a substantially air-tight flexible fabric 40 which interconnects the plates 36, 38, as in the conventional bellows practice. Lugs 41 (FIGS. 6, 7) loosely fitting into recesses formed in the base plate 38 help to main tain the plate in proper alignment. As shown, the base plate 38 is provided with mounting lugs 42 to engage the body 12 to mount the voice device 10 in the body. Thus, rotation of the wheel 16 will cause the rod 30 to oscillate the free end of the spring 34, thereby biasing the movable plate36 to reciprocate relative to the base plate 38. As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, the movable plate 36 is preferably molded of plastic material to comprise a bottom wall 44 formed with an opening to the outside atmosphere as indicated at 46. Interiorly' of the plate 36 the aperture 46 is in communication with a labyrinth air channel 48 passing under a bridge 50 formed integrally with the plate 36 and terminating in a ramp-shaped spoon section 52 on top of which is set a leaf spring reed 54. Pins 56 locate the reed in proper position. A cover plate 58 formed of like plastic is solvent-welded under pressure to the top margins of the labyrinth structure, thereby air-sealing the latter and firmly holding down the base end of the reed against the bridge 50 and air-sealing the structure around the base of the reed. The plate 58 is apertured as indicated at 59, thereby leaving the free end of the reed free to move toward and away from the spoon section 52. The bridge 50 and the 1 cover plate 58 cooperate to provide between their flat surface a firm shape-holding grip upon the base end of the reed; thereby preventing it from cupping such as would spoil its intended vibration characteristics.

Thus, upon opening of the bellows, air is drawn through the opening 46 and through the labyrinth and upwardly around the reed into the bellows chamber defined by the fabric 40. Then, upon relative closing of the plates 36, 38, the air in the bellows is forced to move through the opening between the reed and the spoon,

" thereby causing the reed to flutter against the spoon. It

the like, as maybe preferred; depending also upon the relative arrangement and dimensioning of the parts, and the speed of actuation of the bellows.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the gear system slows the pitman action and the spring 34 is fixed to the movable plate 36 by a staked connection with a pair of posts 62 formed integrally with the plate 36 in such manner that the free end of the spring 34 extends adjacent the hinged end of the bellows. The spring device is reverse-bent and arranged to extend substantially parallel to but spaced from the movable plate 36 for only a short distance to provide when the bellows is open a minimum lever arm effect (FIG. 2), resulting in initial compression of the spring. As the bellows closes, the lever arm increases, changing the rate of bellows response to wheel rotation; and as the pitman approaches the bellows-closing end of its stroke the energy stored in the springs is released. This provides a variable rate of bellows operation which in turn produces a desirable varying pitch sound effect. Thus the pitman action of the connecting rod 30 operates initially under a mechanical disadvantage relative to the air pressure forces within the bellows, and accordingly even relatively rapid starting of the toy will result only in relatively slow operation of the bellows, the spring 34 acting as an intermediate motion take-up device. Thus the reed is relatively slowly vibrated but at a varying rate, and produces a lowing or moaning type sound prolonging even if the toy is stopped midway of the bellows-closing cycle. Hence, the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 is particularly suited to use in a toy simulating a cow or the like.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, the same or a similar spring may with equal facility be staked to the movable plate 36 so that its free end extends from the moving end of the plate; thereby giving the pitman link 30 a mechanical advantage relative to the air pressure forces within the bellows. Hence, the bellows action is directly responsive to the trundling speed and produces staccato operation of the reed which thereby develops more squawking or quacking type sounds. Hence, this ing the toy wheels 92.

In addition, whereas the wheel 16 of FIGS. 1, 2 drives I the bellows through a speed reduction gear system to obtain a slow action of the sound devicegjn the construction of FIGS. 3, 4 the wheel axle crank is connected directly to the bellows, thereby giving the latter a relatively fast action to aid in producing morestaccato sound effects as explained hereinabove. In any' case, the spring 34 functions to absorb the eifects of any mechanical interferences in the cam and pitman and bellows system, such as might otherwise cause jamming of the mechamsm.

- As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, the toy head portion 18 may be caused to rock by means of a connecting link 70 encircling at its lower end a cam 72 carried eccentrically upper end portion 74 slide fitting in a suitably bored guide portion of the toy body and pivoted to the head at a position offset from the pivot 19. Thus, up and down motion of the link 70 will cause the head to rock on its pivot 10, while the spring 74 provides such resiliency in the system that a child may for example push and pull upon the head 18 without damage to the connecting link mechanism.

Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, the duck simulating toy may include bill members 8081 arranged to be pivotally oscillated by means of a link 82 actuated by connection at its bottom end to the free end of spring 34. The spring 34 pivotally connects to a pitman 84 which is actuated by a crank portion 90 of axle 94 carry- Also, the toy body may include wings 97 which are pivotally mounted on the body and are actuated by means of rods 98 extending from circular cams 99 mounted eccentrically on the axle 94.

by the axle 26; the link 70 having a flexible coil spring a Although only a few forms of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is not so limited but that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim. t

We claim: f p

In an action toy of the type having a body member and a fixed, rotatable axle carried thereby, wheel means fixed to said axle ,for rotating the same as thetoy is trundled, a bellows device including a base plate rigidly mounted on said body member, a movable plate connected to said base plate adapted to generate air pressure for sound producing purposes in response to movement thereof relative to said base plate, and a voice means associated with the bellows device, said voice :means being of the type to build up substantial pressure within the bel: lows device upon rapid actuation of the same, said axle having an eccentric portion, and linkage means interconnectingsaid eccentric portion of the axle and said movable bellows plate for actuating the same as the axle rotates; the improvement consisting of a flexible spring member forming a part of said linkage means permitting independent motion of said axle and said bellows'plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hutnikow July 24, 1928 

